Nation in Focus

December 15, 2012 9:08 PM

Photo: Kevin Clark/Associated Press

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(L-R) Michael Haemmerle of Austria, Tony Ramoin of France, Luca Matteotti of Italy and Tomaso Leoni of Italy battle for position in mid air during their semi final heat in the USANA Snowboardcross World Cup Team Event on December 15, 2012 in Telluride, Colorado. Leoni and teammate Emanuel Perathoner finished second overall and Haemmerle and teammate Hanno Douschan finished third. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) less

(L-R) Michael Haemmerle of Austria, Tony Ramoin of France, Luca Matteotti of Italy and Tomaso Leoni of Italy battle for position in mid air during their semi final heat in the USANA Snowboardcross World Cup ... more

Savanah and Diva greet each other while waiting to have their photos taken with Santa during the LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter's 21st annual Pet Photos with Santa Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 in LaPorte, Ind. (AP Photo/The LaPorte Herald-Argus, Bob Wellinski) less

Savanah and Diva greet each other while waiting to have their photos taken with Santa during the LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter's 21st annual Pet Photos with Santa Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 in LaPorte, Ind. ... more

Photo: Bob Wellinski, Associated Press

Savanah and Diva greet each other while waiting to have their... Photo-3900079.53970 - SFGate

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Rainy weather doesn't bother Ashton White, 14, left, and Lauren South, 14, as they pedal away on their bicycles, decorated with tinsel and Grinch dolls, at the start of the Jingle Bell Ride for Arthritis at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, Tenn, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012. The event, benefiting the Arthritis Foundation, offered riders a choice of either a 13 mile route or a five mile "family ride" around the park and along the Wolf River Greenway. (AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Brandon Dill) less

Rainy weather doesn't bother Ashton White, 14, left, and Lauren South, 14, as they pedal away on their bicycles, decorated with tinsel and Grinch dolls, at the start of the Jingle Bell Ride for Arthritis at ... more

Gary Seri, general manager at the Stone River Grille, hangs a message written on a table cloth in honor of the teachers who died along with students a day earlier when a gunman open fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012, in the Sandy Hook village of Newtown, Conn. Seri, who put up red balloons that were not used when a sweet 16 party was canceled the night before in light of the massacre, said the teachers were scheduled to have their holiday party at his restaurant. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) less

Gary Seri, general manager at the Stone River Grille, hangs a message written on a table cloth in honor of the teachers who died along with students a day earlier when a gunman open fire at Sandy Hook ... more

Oregon's Johnathan Loyd, right, flies through the air as Nebraska's Ray Gallegos stuffs the ball in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday Dec. 15, 2012. Loyd was trying to block Gallego's shot. Oregon defeated Nebraska 60-38. (AP Photo/The Register-Guard, Kevin Clark) less

Oregon's Johnathan Loyd, right, flies through the air as Nebraska's Ray Gallegos stuffs the ball in the first half of their NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Saturday Dec. 15, 2012. Loyd was trying ... more

Police officer Terry Fitzgerald of Portland, Maine, carries wreaths as he helps lay holiday wreaths at graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Saturday Dec. 15, 2012, during Wreaths Across America Day. Wreaths Across America was started in 1992 at Arlington National Cemetery by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester and has expanded to hundreds of veterans' cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) less

Police officer Terry Fitzgerald of Portland, Maine, carries wreaths as he helps lay holiday wreaths at graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., Saturday Dec. 15, 2012, during Wreaths Across ... more